Page 1336 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘Certainly. We’ve two women kept specially for
washing small things, but most of the linen’s done by
machinery. The count goes into everything himself. Ah,
what a husband!..’

Dolly was glad when Anna came in, and by her
entrance put a stop to Annushka’s gossip.
Anna had put on a very simple batiste gown. Dolly
scrutinized that simple gown attentively. She knew what it
meant, and the price at which such simplicity was
obtained.
‘An old friend,’ said Anna of Annushka.
Anna was not embarrassed now. She was perfectly
composed and at ease. Dolly saw that she had now
completely recovered from the impression her arrival had
made on her, and had assumed that superficial, careless
tone which, as it were, closed the door on that
compartment in which her deeper feelings and ideas were
kept.
‘Well, Anna, and how is your little girl?’ asked Dolly.
‘Annie?’ (This was what she called her little daughter
Anna.) ‘Very well. She has got on wonderfully. Would
you like to see her? Come, I’ll show her to you. We had a
terrible bother,’ she began telling her, ‘over nurses. We
had an Italian wet-nurse. A good creature, but so stupid!

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